L. O. (Leland Ossian) Howard

Born in Rockford, Illinois, on June 11, 1857, he studied at Cornell University under John Henry Comstock and went on to become one of the leading American entomologists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Reliable sources describe him as a pioneer in economic entomology, the branch of science focused on insects that affect crops, livestock, and people.

Much of his career was spent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he succeeded C. V. Riley and served as chief of the Bureau of Entomology. He is especially remembered for advancing biological control of harmful insects and for strengthening federal research on agricultural pests and insect-borne disease.

Howard also wrote extensively and helped shape entomology as a profession in the United States. He died on May 1, 1950, in Bronxville, New York, leaving behind a reputation as one of the field's major builders.